Jeff Leedy

Are You Laughing At My Art?

Somewhere along the way, I saw that I had two skills, two talents that were always with me. My humor, and my painting ability. No sooner did I try to put my energies into the humor side, than I really missed my painting. Equally, whenever I did a beautiful landscape, it was nice, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t unique. It wasn’t funny.

So I looked for ways to have the two come together. Making art that I loved to do, also be art that makes us laugh. I need to make us laugh. It’s my mission. I almost can’t help it. But, before I can start, the artist side of me needs to be consulted. What color paper? Or should it be canvas? What time of day? Up close?, or further back? Tightly rendered?, or loose? The artist in me responds as I lay out my materials. Then I crank up my stereo and jump in.

I work in oil pastel (in stick form) and use two brands: Caran d’ache from Switzerland, and Sennelier from France. With that I use a non-toxic solvent called turpenoid (like turpentine) to mix and blend color with my finger or with bristle brushes. I make a light sketch on my final choice of toned paper or canvas after toning the background. Remember, the biggest difference between oil pastel and chalk pastel is that oil pastel is harder to get out of my clothes.

I work lightly at first to get proper values and then layer on more oil pastel blending as I go. My colors vibrate next to one another immediately right on the paper. Hot colors like teal, blue violet, red-violet, purple, and periwinkle make me feel good. Am I an earth tone kind of guy? Not!

My originals are reproduced both as giclees and offset lithographs and are carefully supervised by me every step of the way. I strive to replicate the vibrancy of my originals for the enjoyment of my customers. I alone create my artwork. It doesn’t happen without me.

For me, ideas are everywhere (including my life’s experiences). I work mostly from my imagination ( a dangerous place for sure), using reference material occasionally. I hope most everyone can relate to my social commentaries on: cats, dogs, lawyers, coffee, computers, corporate life, golf, spirituality, and the hilarious human condition.

“You see, God gave me these strange set of contact lenses and this is the way I see life.”

I am the collision of the Impressionists and The New Yorker.